The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 auction saw as many as 59 players get sold and here we try to list down our top five picks among all franchises.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 auction saw all the eight teams engage in an intense battle to fight it out for their favourite players ahead of the new season. While there were some expected big buys in the form of Sam Curran and Jaydev Unadkat, there were a host of surprise picks as several Indian uncapped players including the likes of Varun Chakravarthy, Shivam Dube and Prabhsimran Singh, bagged whopping contracts.

While some franchises went for young blood over old horses, some showed their trust in the more experienced players. Several franchises got the players they fought for while many had to settle with what they managed to afford. There were total 70 slots left to fill but the franchises managed to fill only 59. Let's take a look at our top five picks from the IPL 2019 auction.

Shimron Hetmyer to Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 4.2 crore

The West Indies batsman is one of the finest hitters of the cricket ball and recently showcased his prowess with the bat against India in the ODI series, earlier this year. He can hit the biggies and loves to bat on Indian tracks as it looked like during Windies' tour of India. He was the top scorer for his side with 259 runs in 5 innings at an average of 51.80 and a strike rate of brilliant 140. He will significantly strengthen RCB's already power-packed top order and will be a perfect candidate to solve their opening woes after Brendon McCullum and Quinton de Kock's departure.

Sam Curran to Kings XI Punjab for Rs 7.2 crore

The English all-rounder caught the eye of several Indian fans with his brilliant show with the ball and the bat during India vs England Test series earlier this year. Apart from being a lethal pacer, who can accurately deliver on the right spots, Curran can be a handy slogger down the order for Kings XI Punjab and significantly strengthen their middle order. He was a hot favourite at the auction and was eventually bought by KXIP, who were seemingly delighted to have bagged his services. Unlike several other English stars, Curran won't leave the tournament midway due to international commitments, which further enhance his importance in the squad.

Jaydev Unadkat to Rajasthan Royals for 8.4 crore

In a limited pool of experienced Indian pacers, Jaydev Unadkat stood out for his brilliant skills set and variations. A left-arm pacer, Unadkat was always going to be on the wishlist of several franchises for his accuracy to bowl good line and pick up wickets at crucial junctures. After an impressive IPL 2017 with Rising Pune Supergiants, he was bought for a whopping 11.5 crore last year by Rajasthan Royals, who once again got him back after releasing him ahead of the auction. He was bought for Rs 8.4 crore - the joint-highest for any player and will bring much-needed balance to the Royals pace attack.

Moises Henriques to Kings XI Punjab for 1 crore

A utility all-rounder, Henriques brings with himself a wholesome amount of experience of playing in a number of T20 Leagues over the years including the IPL. He has played 176 T20s in his career so far and scored 3219 runs at an average of 26.82 and a brilliant strike rate of 125.88 including 15 half centuries. He has been a part of the IPL since the 2009 season and was an important member of the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. He has played 57 games in the IPL and scored 969 runs at a strike rate close to 130 and has also picked up 38 wickets. He can be a worthy replacement for Marcus Stoinis at KXIP, further strengthening their middle order.

Shivam Dube to Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 5 crore

A lot was said and talked about the uncapped Maharastra all-rounder ahead of the IPL 2019 auctions and rightly so. Dube has been in stellar form in the Ranji Trophy season and has scored 489 runs while also scalping 17 wickets. He has the ability to clear the ropes with ease and can be a handy medium pacer, who also enjoys incredible fitness. He is surely a player captain Virat Kohli will be looking forward to working with in the upcoming season.

From Sam Curran to Shimron Hetmyer Top 5 picks made by franchises in IPL 2019 auctionsDescription:The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 auction saw as many as 59 players get sold and here we try to list down our top five picks among all franchises. Times Now